GET OUT! December 8 to 10

December 8, 2017

By PAM HARBAUGH

All flavors are holiday entertainment are being served up by Brevard’s cultural community. Take in a sweet play, an edgy play and a big choral concert. Read on to find out what might jingle your bells.

SANTALAND DIARIES runs through Dec. 10 at the Henegar Center’s 2nd floor Studio Theater. It stars BeeJay Aubertin and is directed by yours truly. It is an adults only holiday “palate cleanser” with a late night curtain. Read about it by clicking here. Tickets are $26 general, $23 for seniors and military and $16 for students (teenagers). All tickets have a $3 service fee. The Henegar is at 625 E. New Haven Ave., Melbourne. Call 321-723-8698, visit Henegar.org or click on their ad.

BeeJay Aubertin Clinton as Crumpet the Elf in the Henegar Center’s THE SANTALAND DIARIES. Photo by Dana Niemeier

A TUNA CHRISTMAS opens today and runs through Dec. 17 at Titusville Playhouse. This riotous show stars Steven Heron and Patrick Sullivan. It is set in Texas’ third smallest town, “where the Lion’s Club is too liberal and Patsy Cline never dies.” Tickets are $25 and $29. TPI is at 301 Julia St., Titusville. Call 321-268-1125, visit TitusvillePlayhouse.com or click on their ad.

ANNIE runs through Dec. 17 at the Henegar Center. This favorite seasonal musical has all the dancing and laughing and heart tugging warmness you need. Look for a story soon in Brevard Culture. Tickets are $26 general, $23 for seniors and military and $16 for students. All tickets have a $3 service fee. The Henegar is at 625 E. New Haven Ave., Melbourne. Call 321-723-8698, visit Henegar.org or click on their ad.

“Annie” at the Henegar Center. Photo by Dana Niemeier Photography.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL has been extended through Sunday at Cocoa Village Playhouse. Popular area actor Rick Roach reprises his role of Ebeneezer Scrooge who finds redemption courtesy of three spirits and Tiny Tim. Read a Brevard Culture story about the musical production by clicking here. Tickets are $16 to $24. Cocoa Village Playhouse is at 300 Brevard Ave., Cocoa. Call 321-636-5050, visit CocoaVillagePlayhouse.com or click on their ad.

CHRISTMAS WITH DINO runs through Dec. 24 at Melbourne Civic Theatre. The theater company always has a special holiday show, frequently calling upon the talents of Alfie Silva. A wonderful singer and all around great performer, this season, Alfie brings his Dean Martin homage back to life. The show is filled with a bevy of beauties, wonderful songs and sophisticated humor. Tickets start are $30 plus handling. At the posting of this, there is one ticket left for the Dec. 21 add on show. Otherwise, it’s the wait list for you if you don’t have a ticket. MCT is at 817 E. Strawbridge Ave., Melbourne. Call 321-723-6935, visit MyMCT.org or click on their ad.

CHRISTMAS BAROQUE: FROM VENICE TO VERSAILLES features the Brevard Community Chorus and select members of the Brevard Symphony Orchestra. Led by Dr. Robert Lamb, the annual Christmas concert also features professional soloists in two dazzling baroque works: “Gloria” by Antonio Vivaldi and “Messe de Minuit pour Noël” by Marc-Antoine Charpentier. It begins 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at the King Center, 3865 N. Wickham Rd., Melbourne. Tickets are $24 general, $19 seniors and military and $7 students. Call 321-242-2219 or visit KingCenter.com.

Nightlife & Concerts:

UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER PARTY is Riverside Theatre’s “How at the Moon” theme this weekend. It will feature the dueling pianos by Ken Gustafson and Orin Sands. This weekend, guests with the ugliest Christmas sweater will win a prize. This fun-packed music-filled evening has shows at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The shows invite guests to come enjoy a picnic style dinner while listening to some great music, free. Tickets start at $16. Shows sell out quickly, so purchase in advance. Riverside Theatre is at 3250 Riverside Park Drive, Vero Beach, FL. Call 772-231-6990, visit RiversideTheatre.com or click on their ad.

HEIDI’S JAZZ CLUB offers great entertainment, a wonderful bar and a super bar menu. Heidi’s is at 7 N Orlando Ave, Cocoa Beach, FL. Call 321-783-4559 or visit HeidisJazzClub.com or click on their ad.

Fur die Kinder:

ANNIE runs through Dec. 17 at the Henegar. For more information, see above.

A CHRISTMAS STORY: THE MUSICAL at Riverside Theatre for Kids.

A CHRISTMAS STORY, THE MUSICAL! opens tonight and runs through Dec. 16 at Riverside Theatre for Kids. But if you don’t have tickets yet, you’re going to have to wait until next weekend, because opening weekend is sold out. The production is performed by students of Riverside’s children’s theater program. The production is a musical re-telling of the holiday favorite move “A Christmas Story” which is about little Ralphie wanting a BB gun for Christmas. It runs 7 p.m. today and Dec. 15 and 2 and 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 16. Tickets are $10. Riverside Theatre is at 3250 Riverside Drive, Vero Beach. Call 772-231-6990, visit RiversideTheatre.com or click on their ad.

A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS AND HOLIDAY SHOWCASE runs 7 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 11 & 12, at the Cocoa Village Playhouse, 300 Brevard Ave., Cocoa. Tickets are $11 general and $9 student, senior, military and children. A $3 fee is added to all tickets. Call 321-636-5050, visit CocoaVillagePlayhouse.com or click on their ad.

A Garfield Christmas

A GARFIELD CHRISTMAS musical is open to the public for a 2 p.m. show Sunday, Dec. 10 at the King Center. This is a sing-a-long musical starring Garfield and his new friends, including Nutcracker, Rag Doll, Teddy Bear, and even Angel from the top of the Christmas tree. Tickets are $28 general and $12 for children under 12 years of age. The King Center is at 3865 N. Wickham Rd. Melbourne. Call 321-242-2219, or visit KingCenter.com.

Exhibits:

CLOTH AS COMMUNITY: HMONG TEXTILES IN AMERICA runs through Dec. 16 at Florida Institute of Technology’s Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts. The Ruth Funk Center is on the campus of Florida Tech, 150 W. University Blvd., Melbourne. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. Free admission. Call 321-674-8313, visit their website or Click on their ad.

THE MAGICAL WORKS OF NANCY DILLEN exhibition is on view through Jan. 26, 2018 in the Frits van Eeden Gallery at the Renee Foosaner Education Center. The Frits Van Eeden gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Admission is free. The Renee Foosaner Education Center is located at 1520 Highland Ave. in the Eau Gallie Arts District of Melbourne. Call 321-674-8923 or visit FoosanerArtMuseum.org.

THE HISTORY OF SPACE PHOTOGRAPHY and GUARDIANS OF THE COSMOS: PAINTINGS BY RAIMUNDO MARTIN run through Jan. 6, 2018 at the Foosaner Art Museum, at 1463 Highland Avenue. It is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Call 321-674-8916, visit FoosanerArtMuseum.org or click on their ad.

Welcome

Brevard Culture is the place to find the latest news and reviews of the arts in and around Brevard County, Orlando and Vero Beach Florida. We also highlight cultural news of interest outside the area. Brevard Culture editor, Pam Harbaugh, is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association and served as arts writer/theater critic for more than 25 years at Florida Today newspaper.